UPDATED: Thousands of protesters gathered to join church leaders from various sectors in an inter-faith rally to support ZTE national broadband deal whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. and call for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation held at the heart of the central business district of Makati City, south of Manila on Friday 29 February 2008. (Photo credit: VOLTAIRE DOMINGO / NPPA IMAGES)

MANILA, Philippines – On the eve of their highly touted interfaith rally on Friday, religious, political and militant groups made last-minute reminders as they finalized preparations for the event.

In separate statements released Thursday night, the groups made clear their call for truth and accountability from the Arroyo administration, especially in the wake of the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal mess. (more…)

By Corazon Aquino – The most noble—and least disruptive—way out of the moral crisis would be for the President to resign from office. Twenty-two years ago, we began the arduous task of reviving the democratic institutions that the Marcos dictatorship had destroyed. (more…)

President Arroyo Sunday said no one can force her to resign her post amid the numerous controversies hounding her administration and the First Family.

Mrs. Arroyo insisted that she has still the power and authority to decide the workings of government and no one else, the President said in a speech after a private mass with her her family and friends in Malacañang.
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By Rhodina Villanueva – The topnotcher of the recent nursing board exams, a female student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), will be saying thank you to her alma mater in the best way she knows.

Zandra Mae Bongco, 21, said that instead of applying for work abroad or in private companies, she is now considering a teaching job being offered to her by the school administration, particularly by the dean of the College of Nursing. (more…)

By Erwin Oliva – A supposed wiretapped conversation between Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. and Jose “Joey” De Venecia III on YouTube has been getting more views, and has also been “remixed.” The video titled “Crying Babies,” features an animated film showing a small and a bigger pig talking to each other. The audio clip, however, uses a supposed wiretapped conversation between Lozada and De Venecia over a meeting they were planning. (View Video after the jump) (more…)

By Enteng Romano – There is a story going around about how Secretary Ermita was fuming mad at Mike Defensor. The budgeted hush money for a scandal of this scale was P5.0M. And so, the story goes, the envelop was passed from Ed to Mike. But as the money exchanged hands through the bureaucracy, only P50,000 reached the intended recipient – Jun Lozada. (more…)

By Willy E. Arcilla – Their heroic act not only unlocked the vaults of hidden wealth, but triggered a shockwave of nuclear proportions throughout government – members of the Cabinet, the Senate, the Congress, AFP, PNP, even corruption-riddled agencies like the BIR, BOC, DPWH, CHEd, Deped, GOCCs up to the regional, provincial, municipal, and baranggay levels returned their loot as all civil servants followed the example of conversion and restitution. (more…)